Sunday Preview: Nonghyup Trophy At Seoul / Beolmaui Kkum At Busan

Sunday is a big day of racing across the peninsula with good quality match ups at both Seoul and Busan. The unfortunately named Goreous Dream goes after what would be his eighth win on his ninth start in Seoul’s Nonghyup Chairman’s Trophy while Beolmaui Kkum, such a disappointment in last month’s Korea Cup, headlines Busan’s feature.

Beolmaui Kkum quickly led the Korea Cup but quickly faded. He returns to action on Sunday (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Formerly for fillies and mares, this year the Nonghyup Chairman’s Trophy has been repackaged as a race for 3-year-olds. And at Seoul, Goreous Dream (yes, he really is actually called “Gorgeous Dream” in Korean, it seems to be a typo but we’re going to go with it anyway) looks a talent, at least at sprint distances. He’s going to be the strong favourite to keep his record going in the 1200M Nonghyup.

Beolmaui Kkum went out like a train in the Korea Cup at Seoul last month but quickly ran out of steam and handed the race on a platter to the two Japanese visitors. There’s a jockey change today with an apprentice coming in to take some weight off but it still won’t be easy for Beolmaui Kkum in the 1800M race 6. Dongbang Daero, Supreme Magic – 6th in the Korea Sprint – and the ever-reliable Heba will also go.

At Seoul there are 11 races from 10:40 to 18:00 while at Busan there are 6 from 12:50 to 17:00. English race cards are here. Three races will be shown in Australia on Sky Racing 2 for betting on the TAB, including the Nonghyup Trophy. Notes on those below:

Race 8: Class 3 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 75 Million / 14:45

(3) KODIAK LOVE will be the strong favourite here. He didn’t get the greatest of trips in a tough race over this distance on October 2nd but if he can get on speed early today, he has every chance of going all the way in what is slightly weaker company. (9) POWER AND SPEED returned from a full ten months off in September to record an unexpected win at domestic class 4. She’s up in class today but has a strong finish and looks to be the main danger. Also up in class is (10) BARAM SOGEURO. He didn’t disappoint with an all the way win over 1300M and while the draw is less favourable today, he’s should be competitive. (5) SKY JEWANG has a 4th and a 6th from two outings at this level and can build on those today while (1) TAEYANGBYEOL looks best of the rest.

He may be a typo in the registry but (8) GOREOUS DREAM has proved a very effective sprinter on the track. The Sharp Humor colt has won seven of his eight outings to date, almost all of them having led from gat to wire and he will be hot favourite to do exactly the same here. (1) SUN ROK comes in having won his last two and drops back to this distance for the first time since last year. He’s won seven of ten and is a danger. Under the same ownership as Sun Rok (although a different trainer), (5) GWANGBOK CHILSIP is another talent who drops back to a sprint distance for the first time in many months and must be taken seriously. (7) SUSEONG CAPTAIN and (3) SHAMROCKER too will appreciate the distance with the former likely to challenge Goreous Dream and Gwangbok Chilsip for the early lead. It’s a competitive race with seven of the eight having claims (it’s hard to make a case for the still maiden Hwanggeum Cheonha), but the favourite should be too good.

Small but competitive field here with two standouts. (3) WINNERS GLORY looked like he was heading to the top earlier this year but hasn’t managed to build on a 4th place in the Korean Derby. He managed another 4th in the Ilgan Sports Cup in July but his only race since then was a disappointing run over 1400M. He gets another chance here though and should be on speed throughout. Among those beating Winners Glory in that 1400M race was (2) SEOMGWANGI. He was recording his third consecutive 2nd place finish that day but with champion jockey Moon Se Young back in the saddle, he should also be on speed early and can go one better today. He’s the pick. (4) DIXIE PLOIT, a half-brother to a Derby winner, is up in class following a smart win over this distance last month and looks best of the rest. He’ll come from off the pace as will the next best (7) GRAND PNYX and (8) CARDIFF HWANHUI.